BY UCHECHI OKPORIE
The national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has outlined why the party does not operate with a Board of Trustees (BoT), a structure commonly found in other major political parties.
Speaking at a public event in the capital, Yilwatda said that the APC’s choice to function without a BoT reflects its emphasis on grassroots participation and member-driven support, rather than relying on a smaller group of senior figures to guide the party.
According to the APC chairman, the party is funded largely through voluntary contributions from its broader membership base, which he said strengthens ownership among ordinary members. He also stressed that the APC’s expanding national presence is rooted in its organizational systems and internal transparency.
Yilwatda noted that the party’s membership database is now linked to Nigeria’s National Identity Number (NIN) through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a move he said has improved record-keeping and accountability in internal processes.
The digital system, he added, ensures that only duly registered members can participate in party primaries.
Addressing ongoing debates over how candidates are selected, the party leader said the APC remains open to various primary methods, including direct, indirect and consensus approaches positioning this flexibility as a strength rather than a point of contention.
Responding to concerns about the movement of politicians from other parties into the APC, Yilwatda dismissed fears that this trend signals dominance by one party, saying it reflects confidence in the APC’s organizational structure compared with rival platforms.
